On May 9, 2007, Lili’s Bistro opened its doors on Magnolia Avenue and began crafting a space filled with exceptional food, live music, a seasoned staff, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes for a memorable experience, quickly earning a place as a local favorite.
“Lili’s is about comfort – from the service to the food and everything else that follows” Vance Martin, owner and chef, said on the website.
A lot has changed on Magnolia Avenue since heavy renovations began as passionate citizens noticed the potential on the once run-down street. Historic buildings were torn down to make way for new roads and public parks designed for all ages to enjoy. Eventually, the park became full of various artworks and picnic tables, and it was soon complete with nearby neighborhood residents gathering in the space. A variety of shops, salons, restaurants, and other locally owned businesses formed around the land, reshaping the area into a flourishing public destination.
Martin entered the restaurant business at 15, where he worked his way up until he found himself in management positions. He developed a passion for the industry and continued his pursuit to ownership, eventually opening his first restaurant in Fort Worth, an upscale deli called Café Panacea.
The inspiration for Lili’s begins with the name, as it’s named after his daughter, Lilian. This was also a way for Martin to take parts of his background and assemble them all in a new restaurant with foods for everyone’s enjoyment.
“It was an opportunity for me to do an accumulation of my past experience all under one roof,” Martin said.
Martin opened Lili’s on Magnolia since Café Panacea was established on the north side of Magnolia and experienced a high concentration of people, making lunch business easy to capture. Lili’s proximity to high-traffic neighborhoods helped it quickly gain popularity and led to greater success in attracting customers for lunch and dinner hours. Over the years, the restaurant built a steady clientele both in the community from nearby areas and visitors from various parts of the city.
While location and customers play crucial roles in Lili’s success, Martin specifies how implementing a dedicated staff truly makes a difference in maintaining and building upon that success. A team of balanced and committed employees deliver exceptional service and create a comfortable environment where the staff and clients feel respected, contributing to loyalty and growth towards the restaurant.
“Culture in business is important, and probably more important than the paycheck. People want to work where they’re comfortable and happy, so you have to be willing to trust and empower people to build confidence and loyalty,” Martin said.
Due to employees having such an affect on business, one of the biggest challenges Martin has faced is finding and retaining a solid work force. Martin emphasizes the importance of a supportive atmosphere that not only encourages personal growth, but also maintains long-term employees. He stresses that encouraging this sense of trust and empowerment is essential for the overall success of the business.
“You have to allow people to make mistakes along the way, which everybody does and is going to. As long as it’s mutually benefitting, and employees lead with a sense of accomplishment and reward, that will help retain good employees,” Martin said.
On the other hand, the proudest moment Martin has experienced since opening Lili’s is the long-term success he has faced, building his restaurant over the years and watching it become a cherished staple in the community. His ability to strengthen his loyal customer base, adapt to a frequently changing business, and incorporate foods from all around the board for each customer to enjoy has served as a tremendous reward to his vision and effort invested into Lili’s.
Beyond providing food service for Magnolia, involvement in the local community also contributes to the accomplishments earned by Martin. He believes that ensuring healthy connections with the surrounding area is not only beneficial for his restaurant, but also promotes long-term relationships and trust among customers.
“I see giving back to Magnolia as a responsibility, but I think everybody should want to contribute in some form or fashion to their communities. We should want to, by choice, help in situations that might be less fortunate than ours,” Martin said.
The creative yet familiar dishes at Lili’s focus on comfort food while maintaining innovation in an often unpredictable industry. Described as ‘unpretentious global cuisine,’ it combines classic flavors with original touches to offer familiarity and flair.
From the lunch menu, many enjoy a signature dish called the Texas Steak – a lightly dusted and pan-fried beef cutlet topped with black pepper cream gravy and served with a choice of fries or cabbage sauté. Another fan favorite is the Macaroon Flounder, which contains coconut and macadamia nut-crusted flounder topped with honey-ginger lime sauce and accompanied by a side of rice. Both meals offer a balance of satisfying elements and vibrant tastes.
From the dinner menu, two of my favorite meals are the Toasted Ravioli – breaded cheese ravioli topped with basil pesto and a cherry compote – and the Calamari – lightly breaded calamari served with blood orange aioli.
A signature dish from the dessert menu is their famous donuts – four hot, handmade donuts dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled with chocolate and vanilla, and complemented with a scoop of coffee ice cream.
Lili’s Bistro is located at 1310 W Magnolia Ave and is open for lunch and dinner. Lunch hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For dinner, they are open Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Lili’s includes a wide variety of live music from local artists from Wednesday through Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to close. They do not take lunch reservations and require a call ahead of time for larger parties. For dinner, reservations are optional, but they are recommended.
